It was a game Syracuse desperately needed for bowl eligibility. Florida State had put all of its problems on display for the nation to laugh at through the first month of the season. But even an embattled Mike Norvell and one of the sloppiest Seminoles teams of the last forty years found a way to knock off SU at the buzzer, 33-30.
SU found a way to claw back from down 9-0, 23-13, and 30-20 to tie the game up with just over 5:00 to play. But the Noles were able to drive in the final minute 63 yards to set up the game-winning FG and a golden opportunity to get a conference win fell. The refs did SU no favors in the final frantic few minutes.
Duce Chestnut chose to take the optimistic route, saying, ‚ÄúWe‚Äôre just showing everybody that we‚Äôre some dogs. We work hard. We‚Äôre not the same team from last year. We‚Äôre coming out to put it on for the ACC.‚Äù Chestnut had every right to feel good, his diving interception of a swing pass will be one of the most thrilling highlights of the entire season. It’s still hard to remember a time another corner had that type of burst, hands, and instincts to pull off that move.
“Syracuse football‚Äôs loss to Florida State feels like a mix of one that could come back to haunt the Orange and a display of grit that could help it grow.” – Bret Axe, Syracuse.com
“Syracuse‚Äôs offense lined up for a fourth-and-2 on its own 28-yard line with 1:50 remaining in the first quarter. After taking a timeout, the offense came back out instead of the field goal unit. Shrader handed the ball off to Tucker, who was immediately taken down by the FSU defense, causing the first turnover of the game. The Orange was down 3-0 at the time, and a short field goal would‚Äôve tied the game. It was an interesting choice by Dino Babers, given the Orange lost by three points.” – Mike Curtis, Syracuse.com
“Norvell and the Seminoles needed to do something to win back a scarred fanbase ‚Äî a tough task ahead, judging by the announced attendance of 56,609 on family weekend. They needed to do something to keep a top-10, program-changing recruiting class from bailing. They needed to do something to keep the locker room from crumbling under a second-year coach who entered Doak Campbell Stadium 3-10. They needed to do something to keep the trust flowing in and around this proud but bruised program. They needed to get a win.” – Matt Baker, Tampa Bay Times
“Imagine telling an FSU fan five years ago that a field goal to beat Syracuse — yes, Syracuse — would warrant a celebration of anything approaching this magnitude. And yet, with all FSU has been through so far this season, three one-score losses at home and the program’s first 0-4 start in 47 years, it was completely warranted.” – Curt Weiler, Tallahassee Democrat
“Travis said he knew the game was won after his runs because he knew Fitzgerald would make the field goal, ‚ÄúI‚Äôve got faith in my dog.‚Äù And after the Orange iced him once, that‚Äôs exactly what the kicker did. Fitzgerald ended the game with a 34-yard field goal as time ran out.” – Tomahawk Nation
“For the second consecutive week, FSU‚Äôs defense struggled to contain a dual-threat quarterback. Syracuse‚Äôs Garrett Shrader shredded the Seminoles with 287 yards of offense and 4 touchdowns. He was responsible for four plays of 20-plus yards, including a 26-yard touchdown pass to receiver Anthony Queeley and a 55-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter.” – Orlando Sentinel
